History Fridge / BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight

* When fighting against Bael, you can attack any of its heads as you wish, but doing so will only put that head out of commission for a short time before it's back up again. In order to do any real damage onto him, you need to attack the head that Dominique is perched atop of in order to truly defeat it and send it back to hell. Which begs the question: what if Dominique wasn't there? Would this not make Bael literally unstoppable, without a literal weak point and controller? If humanity was screwed over for ten years by the demon invasion, then it would've been completely turned to HellOnEarth if the Alchemist's Guild managed to summon Bael!

* Despite defeating her, it's possible for Bloodless is still around. How? [[spoiler:She's a vampire just like [=O.D.=] -- whom after his defeat and "death" is still right as rain in his library, and explains that [[CompleteImmortality he can't die due to being a vampire]]. While O.D. was kind enough to inform Miriam that [[DefeatMeansFriendship Defeat Equals Servitude]] for vampires, Bloodless was not; she could've resurrected and fled the castle while Miriam was ignorant, and remain at large unless Miriam stumbles across her again.]] While this is nice for the playerbase since this means a fan-favorite character can easily appear in future installments, it's not so nice InUniverse for the innocent humans that now have to deal with the rampage of a blood-bending vampire woman that's been kicked out of her home.

* When fighting against Bael, you can attack any of its heads as you wish, but doing so will only put that head out of commission for a short time before it's back up again. In order to do any real damage onto him, you need to attack the head that Dominique is perched atop of in order to truly defeat it and send it back to hell. Which begs the question: what if Dominique wasn't there? Would this not make Bael literally unstoppable, without a literal weak point and controller? If humanity was screwed over for ten years by the demon invasion, then it would've been completely turned to HellOnEarth if the Alchemist's Guild managed to summon Bael!

* [[spoiler:Dominique and Gebel]] are arguably dark reflections of the Belmont clan in the ''Castlevania'' series. [[spoiler:Their exorcist bloodline allows them to resist demonic power, yet rather than becoming heroes because of this, Gebel becomes a test subject for the alchemists and the possessed pawn of a demon (something he seemingly doesn't survive) and Dominique goes off the deep end after seeing her family destroyed and resolves to gain demonic power for herself, showing what could happen if a Belmont willingly turned bad and combined their strength with demonic might. Dominique even uses a whip and light element attacks to reinforce the parallel further.]]

* Some FridgeHorror laden with NightmareFuel. [[spoiler:In the Bael fight, you can hit any of the heads you want to hit, but if it's not one of the ones that Dominique is on, then it'll only put that head out of commission for a short time. Which begs the question of: What if Dominique wasn't there as a weak point for Bael? Without her acting as the anchor for him, and if he wasn't truly killed by having all of his heads put down at once, would it not make him completely unstoppable? If the Alchemists Guild doing a botched summoning led to 10 years of destruction by demons, then if their summoning were truly completed, it would become a literal HellOnEarth because nothing humanity could throw at Bael would truly work!]]

* Other than the subtle shout-out to Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure, Orlok Dracule's name makes even more sense when you consider where the name "Orlok" came from.[[note]]''Nosferatu'' was a silent film based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, shot in 1922. While the film was originally a straight adaptation, it fell into legal trouble due to not having legal permission to use the intellectual property. As a result, the names of virtually every character in the film were changed; specifically, Dracula was renamed to "Orlok." See the TV Tropes page on the film [[{{Film/Nosferatu}} here.]] [[/note]] Like Orlok, OD is a [[{{Alucard}} clearly-recognizable character]] from [[{{Franchise/Castlevania}} another series,]] whom the developers of Bloodstained didn't have permission to include; as such, they [[CaptainErsatz found a way to include him]] [[LawyerFriendlyCameo without including him.]]

** Bathin is said to know the virtues of precious stones and herbs. What better place to be than at the ''Underground Sorcery Lab'', one of the Alchemist's Guilds headquarters that requires previous things to do their work?

** Other than the subtle shout-out to Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure, Orlok Dracule's name makes even more sense when you consider where the name "Orlok" came from.[[note]]''Nosferatu'' was a silent film based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, shot in 1922. While the film was originally a straight adaptation, it fell into legal trouble due to not having legal permission to use the intellectual property. As a result, the names of virtually every character in the film were changed; specifically, Dracula was renamed to "Orlok." See the TV Tropes page on the film [[{{Film/Nosferatu}} here.]] [[/note]] Like Orlok, OD is a [[{{Alucard}} clearly-recognizable character]] from [[{{Franchise/Castlevania}} another series,]] whom the developers of Bloodstained didn't have permission to include; as such, they [[CaptainErsatz found a way to include him]] [[LawyerFriendlyCameo without including him.]]

* Plenty of the Demon's placements in ''Ritual'' makes sense when one reads what they affect in the Ars Goetia.

** The combination of [[SomethingAboutARose roses]] and [[TrueBlueFemininity blue hues]] as motifs for Miriam make sense on an individual level. But when taken together (particularly in her best sword, the Blue Rose), they become even more meaningful. Since roses do not naturally produce any variety of blue pigment, it's impossible either through chance or horticulture to produce an actual blue rose. Doing so requires experimentation and alteration of the base nature of a rose itself. Just like a blue rose, Miriam is the result of humanity's experimentation and modification to make what would otherwise be impossible. Likewise, in the language of flowers blue roses symbolize "mystery", "longing to attain the impossible", and even believing those who have blue roses "Will have their wishes granted". [[spoiler: Miriam is trying to find out the mystery behind Gebel's FaceHeelTurn, she wants to save him but he dies no matter what making her attempt to let him live impossible, but she still gets her wish in that Gremory's control finally lapses and lets Gebel be himself before he dies, thus "saving" him.]]
** Gebel's motif is obviously red roses, given how far the crystallization curse has spread throughout his body make his whole body appear as if they're covered by them. It fits in the sense of RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver, given how he wants to wreck the world for what the Alchemist's Guild has done to him and Miriam. However, red roses also serve as symbols of love and devotion, which fit for Gebel as he also wishes to [[WeCanRuleTogether include Miriam into his plans]]. Symbolically, they can also mean deep regret and sorrow, [[spoiler: which befits how Gebel dies no matter what happens.]]
** [[spoiler: Dominique is the last person we see having the shards bound to her body. Her color is overall the same as Gebel's, being a blood red. However, her version of red roses instead points towards the idea of them serving as revolutionary symbols, such as how Socialists and Social Democrats in the later 1800s and early 1900s have used it as a symbol for their parties. Given that Dominique wants to use the power of the crystals to essentially tear Heaven and God down, it certainly fits in the style of the red rose symbolizing politics and revolutionary ideas. It could also be seen as how she subverts the meaning of the Red Rose referring to true love, due to how she uses everyone around her. Going on abit of a stretch, one could even say that if we take her hair color into account, she could accurately depict yellow roses. In the language of flowers, they can symbolize platonic relationships, jealousy, and are even used in farewells, which befits how Dominique befriends people in order to use them, is envious of the demons power and wishes to use it for herself, and how she inevitably leaves to betray everyone else.]]
* In the Den of Behemoths, right before you fight Valefor, you'll more than likely have come across some blue chests that only contain money and not useful materials for alchemy. Now, this might seem odd, especially given a chest you can find right beneath his own stage where his feet is. Shouldn't he be greedily keeping this to himself...? The FridgeBrilliance kicks in in that he explicitly ''wants'' you to pick up the money laid out for you. When you face him and kill him the first time, he uses a move where he restores his health equal to how much money you have, and you'll more than likely have enough to replenish his health and then some if you have much more than what you entered the Den with! Those chests full of money are more or less literal life insurance for Valefor!

* Some FridgeHorror laden with NightmareFuel. [[spoiler: In the Bael Fight, you can hit any of the heads you want to hit, but if it's not one of the ones that Dominique is on, then it'll only put that head out of commission for a short time. Which begs the question of: What if Dominique wasn't there as a weak point for Bael? Without her acting as the anchor for him, and if he wasn't truly killed by having all of his heads put down at once, would it not make him completely unstoppable? If the Alchemists Guild doing a botched summoning lead to 10 years of destruction by demons, then if their summoning were truly completed, it would become a literal HellOnEarth because nothing humanity could throw at Bael would truly work!]]
* [[spoiler: Dominique and Gebel ]]are arguably dark reflections of the Belmont clan in the Castlevania series.[[spoiler: Their exorcist bloodline allows them to resist demonic power, yet rather than becoming heroes because of this Gebel becomes a test subject for the alchemists and the possessed pawn of a demon (something he seemingly doesn't survive) and Dominique goes off the deep end after seeing her family destroyed and resolves to gain demonic power for herself, showing what could happen if a Belmont willingly turned bad and combined their strength with demonic might. Dominique even uses a whip and light element attacks to re-enforce the parallel further.]]

** There's also a story justification to why these are bad endings. [[spoiler: ''Just a Flicker'' has Gebel killed before the revelation that Dominique is EvilAllAlong, so she can carry out her plans while Miriam and Johannes are unaware, while the ''Usurper'' ending presumably has the hidden Gremory eventually corrupt Miriam the same as she did Gebel.]]

** [[spoiler: Dominique is the last person we see having the shards bound to her body. Her color is overall the same as Gebel's, being a blood red. However, her version of red roses instead points towards the idea of them serving as revolutionary symbols, such as how Socialists and Social Democrats in the later 1800s and early 1900s have used it as a symbol for their parties. Given that Dominique wants to use the power of the crystals to essentially tear Heaven and God down, it certainly fits and could be seen as how she subverts the meaning of the Red Rose referring to true love, due to how she uses everyone around her. Going on abit of a stretch, one could even say that if we take her hair color into account, she could accurately depict yellow roses. In the language of flowers, they can symbolize platonic relationships, jealousy, and are even used in farewells, which befits how Dominique befriends people in order to use them, is envious of the demons power and wishes to use it for herself, and how she inevitably leaves to betray everyone else.]]

* Some FridgeHorror laden with NightmareFuel. [[spoiler: In the Bael Fight, you can hit any of the heads you want to hit, but if it's not one of the ones that Dominique is on, then it'll only put that head out of commission for a short time. Which begs the question of: What if Dominique wasn't there as a weak point for Bael? Without her acting as the anchor for him, and if he wasn't truly killed by having all of his heads put down at once, would it not make him completely unstoppable? If the Alchemists Guild doing a botched summoning lead to 10 years of destruction by demons, then if their summoning were truly completed, it would become a literal HellOnEarth because nothing humanity could throw at Bael would truly work!]]

** [[spoiler: Dominique is the last person we see having the shards bound to her body. Her color is overall the same as Gebel's, being a blood red. However, her version of red roses instead points towards the idea of them serving as revolutionary symbols, such as how Socialists and Social Democrats in the later 1800s and early 1900s have used it as a symbol for their parties. Given that Dominique wants to use the power of the crystals to essentially tear Heaven and God down, it certainly fits and could be seen as how she subverts the meaning of the Red Rose referring to true love, due to how she uses everyone around her. Going on abit of a stretch, one could even say that if we take her hair color into account, she could accurately depict yellow roses. In the language of flowers, they can symbolize platonic relationships, jealousy, and are even used in farewells, which befits how Dominique befriends people in order to use them, is envious of the demons power and wishes to use it for herself, and how she inevitably leaves to betray everyone else.]]

* The combination of [[SomethingAboutARose roses]] and [[TrueBlueFemininity blue hues]] as motifs for Miriam make sense on an individual level. But when taken together (particularly in her best sword, the Blue Rose), they become even more meaningful. Since roses do not naturally produce any variety of blue pigment, it's impossible either through chance or horticulture to produce an actual blue rose. Doing so requires experimentation and alteration of the base nature of a rose itself. Just like a blue rose, Miriam is the result of humanity's experimentation and modification to make what would otherwise be impossible.

* No wonder [[spoiler: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Dominique]]]] is fought in an icy cave: it's a representation of the [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Ninth Circle of Hell]], a frozen wasteland designated for traitors!

* No wonder [[spoiler: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Dominique]]]] is fought in an icy cave: it's a representation of the Ninth Circle of Hell, a frozen wasteland designated for traitors!

** Indeed, getting better endings in past games of IGA's often required a lot of inventive exploration and ability use.

* Another bit of FridgeBrilliance is how well Bloodstained and Castlevania line up in terms of origins. First off, what do we know that is the reason that [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Leon]] gains the ability to use magic and has upgraded his whip into the Vampire Killer? What is the reason that the Ebony and Crimson Stones exist, the latter of which Matthias used to forsake his humanity and become a Vampire/Dracula? The answer is simple: Alchemy. It's the reason that the problems (as well as the solutions) are present in the Castlevania universe, and now it's the same thing in the Bloodstained Universe! Not to mention it's the only type of magic not used by any player characters in Castlevania, whereas here it's now at the forefront.

** Indeed, in fact getting better endings in past games of IGA's often required such inventive exploration and ability use.

* As mentioned on the main page, the path to the GoldenEnding requires actions that seem like SequenceBreaking while not being hinted at in-game. It's obtuse by modern game design standards, but it's possible to stumble onto on your own, especially if you're obsessively searching every corner of the map for secrets or a DiscOneNuke as were so common in Iga's previous titles. In other words, getting to the true end of this GenreThrowback is a reward for knowing what to expect of an Igavania title.

* Another bit of FridgeBrilliance is how well Bloodstained and Castlevania line up in terms of origins. First off, what do we know that is the reason that [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Leon]] gains the ability to use magic and has upgraded his whip into the Vampire Killer? What is the reason that the Ebony and Crimson Stones exist, the latter of which Matthias used to forsake his humanity and become a Vampire/Dracula? The answer is simple: Alchemy. It's the reason that the problems (as well as the solutions) are present in the Castlevania universe, and now it's the same thing in the Bloodstained Universe! Not to mention it's the only type of magic not used by any player characters in Castlevania, whereas here it's now at the forefront.

* The pitch video has IGA calmly explaining his goals and plans for ''Bloodstained'', much like a normal Kickstarter pitch video. And then there's a random part where he tortures a man for no reason. Doesn't really make much sense... until you realize it's a VisualPun. The man IGA tortures is strapped to a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_(torture) rack]], a torture device that ''stretches'' the victim apart. And IGA is doing this while talking about the project's ''stretch'' goals.

[[AC:Fridge Brilliance]]
* The pitch video has IGA calmly explaining his goals and plans for ''Bloodstained'', much like a normal Kickstarter pitch video. And then there's a random part where he tortures a man for no reason. Doesn't really make much sense... until you realize it's a VisualPun. The man IGA tortures is strapped to a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_(torture) rack]], a torture device that ''stretches'' the victim apart. And IGA is doing this while talking about ''Bloodstained's'' ''stretch'' goals.